Sit on the Right side of the plane for the best views on flights from Pittsburgh (pennsylva) to Los Angeles. The left side wins at takeoff for the Pittsburgh cityscape, but the right side delivers the more dramatic and sustained scenery — the Rockies crossing over Colorado and Utah, and the spectacular LAX coastal approach over Santa Monica Bay. Right side passengers also get views of the Mojave Desert terrain and the San Bernardino Mountains during descent into Southern California.

During takeoff from Pittsburgh International (PIT), sit on the Left side for the best views. Pittsburgh International uses runways oriented roughly east-west. Departing westbound toward LAX, the left (south) side gives you a clear view back over downtown Pittsburgh, the confluence of the three rivers, and the Ohio River valley as you climb out. The right side faces north toward suburban sprawl with less visual interest. Notable sights include: Downtown Pittsburgh skyline and Point State Park at the three rivers confluence, Ohio River winding southwest, Monongahela River valley, Allegheny County suburban grid.

When landing at Los Angeles International (LAX), sit on the Right side for the best views. LAX typically lands eastbound on runways 24L/24R or westbound on 06L/06R depending on wind. On the dominant westerly flow, aircraft approach from the east over the LA Basin. The right (south) side gives you the best view of the LA coastline, Santa Monica Bay, Palos Verdes Peninsula, and the city grid of South LA. The left side faces inland toward the San Gabriel Mountains and the urban sprawl of the San Fernando Valley. Notable sights include: Santa Monica Bay and Pacific coastline, Palos Verdes Peninsula, Los Angeles urban grid, Long Beach Harbor.

The flight from Pittsburgh International (PIT) to Los Angeles International (LAX) takes Approximately 4 hours 45 minutes to 5 hours 15 minutes.

The flight tracks roughly along 40°N before curving southwest. Key features include the flat agricultural plains of Indiana and Illinois, the Mississippi River crossing near St. Louis, the Ozark Plateau of Missouri, the Texas Panhandle or southern Kansas grasslands, the Sangre de Cristo and Rocky Mountains over Colorado or New Mexico depending on routing, the Colorado Plateau and canyon country of Utah or Arizona, the Mojave Desert, and the San Bernardino Mountains before descent into the LA Basin.